Sustainable Cellulose-Nanofiber-Based Hydrogels

Abstract

Hydrogel materials have many excellent properties and a wide range of applications. Recently, a new type of hydrogel has emerged: cellulose nanofiber (CNF)-based hydrogels, which have three-dimensional nanofiber networks and unique physical properties. Because CNFs are abundant, renewable, and biodegradable, they are green and eco-friendly nanoscale building blocks. In addition, CNF-based hydrogel materials exhibit excellent mechanical properties and designable functions by different preparation methods and structure designs, demonstrating huge development potential. In this Perspective, we summarize the recent progress in the development of CNF-based hydrogels and introduce their applications in elastic hydrogels, ionic conduction, water purification, and biomedicine, highlighting future trends and opportunities for the further development of CNF-based hydrogels as emerging materials systems.

Nanocellulose‐Based Functional Materials: From Chiral Photonics to Soft Actuator and Energy Storage

“…[399][400][401][402][403] Furthermore, nanocellulose-derived functional materials are also applied in several other fields, such as water treatment, thermal management, hydrogels, ionic conduction, transistor, and smart radiative cooling. [403][404][405][406][407][408][409][410][411] It is expected that the development of nanocellulose-based advanced functional materials will yield unlimited opportunities and challenges and will continue to be a prosperous research field involving scientists and engineers from diverse technological backgrounds.…”

Advances in Cellulose-Based Hydrogels for Biomedical Engineering: A Review Summary

“…To address this challenge, synthetic hydrogels and hybrid hydrogels are favored by researchers because of their tunable physical and chemical properties, which include super-adhesion [ 33 ], strong toughness, fatigue resistance, self-reinforcement [ 34 ], and self-healing [ 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 ]. In addition, strategies for the design and functionality of aerogels [ 39 , 40 ] and nanofiber-based hydrogels [ 41 ] were also considered for intensive attention.…”

Untitled

“…They can retain a large amount of water and swell without dissolving in the water; as a result, hydrogels have high water absorbency [1][2][3][4]. Cellulose is one of the favorable precursor materials for the preparation of hydrogel due to its biocompatibility, low cost, renewability, abundance, biodegradability, and non-toxicity [5][6][7]. Cellulose has been explored by researchers for the fabrication of cellulose-based hydrogel, nanoparticles, and aerogel for various biomedical and technological applications [8][9][10].…”